Mayor To Consider Proposal To Realign Burnside Curves

EAST HARTFORD — Mayor Robert M. DeCrescenzo said he will consider a Republican proposal to enlist the state's help in straightening out the S-curves on Burnside Avenue.

The proposal asks the town to work with the state to realign the back-to-back curves, known as ``Short Reach.'' Burnside Avenue is a state road.

``I'm very interested in pursuing this,'' DeCrescenzo said after the town council meeting Monday, when the Sept. 25 memorandum outlining the proposal was released to a reporter. The matter was not discussed during the meeting.

DeCrescenzo said he will meet with town council members and Michael Mancini, the town engineer, to talk about the idea, although it is one of many similar proposals that have been pitched over the years.

If the proposal is acted upon, it may affect DeCrescenzo's plan to buy property off Burnside Avenue and Hillside Street for use as open space next to Martin Park. The Republicans suggest in the memo that a ``12-acre parcel of land off Hillside Street . . . not be acquired as open space by the town.'' During the summer, the owners of two parcels at the location said they would like to sell their land to the town, although the town hasn't taken any action on the offers.

Both DeCrescenzo, a Democrat, and Richard F. Kehoe, the Democratic majority leader, said even if the road is realigned, some leftover land may eventually be used as open space.

The GOP memo cites statistics from local police, who say there were 37 accidents between January 1993 and August 1995 occurring at the curves.

It suggests that the town consider three options. Under one, the road would be extended directly east to Hillside Street so it ends across from the driveway of the Coachlight Village condominiums. The other two options would simply straighten out the northern curve.

The latter two options would require the taking of property that has not been offered for sale.

During the session, the council:

* Authorized the withdrawal of $3,600 to prepare the Civil War monument for the winter. The town plans to eventually restore the statue.

* Referred to the ordinance committee proposals to make it easier for the town to enforce its maintenance code and zoning regulations.

* Set a public hearing date for a proposed demolition ordinance for Oct. 17 at 7:15 p.m.

* Honored the 1995 East Hartford High School baseball team, who were named Class LL champions.